Process Control Chart

Author(s):
Timothy L. Wiemken, PhD, MPH, CIC Assistant Professor of Medicine

Director, University of Louisville Hospital Epidemiology Program
Assistant Director of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Clinical and Translational Research Support Center
Louisville, KY

Robert R. Kelley, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine

Assistant Director of Data Management and Analysis
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Clinical and Translational Research Support Center
Louisville, KY

Revised Publication:
June 26, 2026 Margaret Gilman, MAS, CIC Manager, Infection Prevention and Control

Nemours Children’s Hospital
Wilmington, DE

 Paul Gentile, MPH, CIC, FAPIC Infection Preventionist

Yale New Haven Hospital
New Haven, CT

 Jackie White, MPH, CIC Senior Infection Preventionist

Infection Prevention & Epidemiology
University of Michigan Health
Ann Arbor, MI
Original Publication:
October 2, 2014
Declarations of Conflicts of Interest:
  • Paul Gentile is an Editor of the APIC Text. He reviewed and updated the Chapter as part of an internal APIC Text editorial team with oversight from additional Text editors.
  • Chelsea Hagg declares no conflicts of interest. Chelsea Hagg is an Editor of the APIC Text. She reviewed and updated the Process Control Charts Chapter as part of an internal APIC Text editorial team with oversight from additional Text editors.
  • Jackie White, MPH, CIC declares no conflicts of interest. Jackie White was an APIC Text Editor during chapter updates. She reviewed and updated the Chapter as part of an internal APIC Text editorial team with oversight from additional Text editors.
  • Timothy Wiemken serves on the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines committee, received grant funding from Clorox Healthcare, is on the speaker bureau for Sanofi Pasteur.
Acknowledgments:

Special thanks to Margaret Gilman, MAS, CIC, Paul Gentile, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, and Jacqueline White, MPH, CIC, for collectively reviewing and updating the 2014 chapter. Additional thanks to Timothy L. Wiemken, PhD, MPH, CIC and Robert R. Kelley, PhD for authoring the 2014 iteration of the chapter.

Abstract

Process control charts are used to determine whether processes are operating under statistical control or are exhibiting unusual variation. In infection prevention and control (IPC), these types of charts are used to analyze variations in rates of compliance with IPC measures and to identify meaningful changes in infection rates over time. The information provided by these charts can help infection preventionists promptly identify abnormal events that warrant investigation and perhaps intervention. As such, process control charts are an important tool for quality and process improvement initiatives.